PAiVl. 

N.  AMER. 

: _ i _ : _ _ _ 

■■■■'■  ■  . 

to  J^elp 
tije  Jmmtjrant 

Charles  Stelzle 


Illustrated  by 

G.  B.  ST.  JOHN 


Issued  by  the  Department  of 
Immigration,  Board  of  Home 
Missions  of  tbe  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  U.  S.  A.,  1 56 
Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  Gty. 


OST  of  us  can  remem¬ 
ber  a  little  group  of  de¬ 
moted  “missionary  wo¬ 
men”  who  came  together  once  a 
week  to  pray  for  an  open  door  to 
the  foreigner.  Their  prayer  has 
been  answered.  God  has  opened 
the  door.  But  it  swings  both 
ways.  We  may  now  go  to  the 
foreigner  with  the  gospel,  but  he 
is  also  coming  to  us,  bringing  his 
problems  with  him. 

Hungry,  oppressed,  exploited, 
deceived — born  in  lands  where 
the  word  “government”  means 
oppression — these  millions  look 
upon  “AMERIKA”  as  the  twen¬ 
tieth  century  land  of  promise. 
Like  a  great  wave  they  are  com¬ 
ing,  threatening  to  flood  our 
Eastern  States,  swelling  the  tide 
toward  the  west,  and  splashing 
the  spray  everywhere. 

Even  though  immigration  should  at  this  time  be 
absolutely  restricted,  the  present  generation  of 
Americans  will  have  all  it  can  do  to  adequately 
meet  the  needs  of  those  who  are  already  here.  But 
they  will  continue  to  come.  Every  law  which  af¬ 
fects  human  life — physical,  social,  political,  eco¬ 
nomic — seems  to  have  conspired  to  make  America 
the  Mecca  of  the  oppressed  races  of  the  earth.  True 


l 


enough,  after  they  get  here,  the  call  of  the  home¬ 
land  is  often  heard  and  many  return.  Family  rela¬ 
tionships,  the  spare  cash  deposited  in  foreign  sav¬ 
ings  banks,  the  pleading  for  loyalty  on  the  part  of 
the  government,  the  constant  inducements  offered 
by  steamship  companies,  and  the  natural  love  for 
the  fatherland  which  exists  in  the  heart  of  every  pa¬ 
triot — all  these  have  a  tendency  to  pull  them  back, 
especially  during  a  time  of  business  depression  in 
the  United  States. 

But  when  the  immigrant  returns  to  the  fatherland 
it  is  as  a  missionary — telling  of  the  greatness  and 
the  glory  of  America !  Stirred  is  the  blood  of  the 
men  as  they  listen,  and  quick  comes  the  flush  of  the 
women  who  have  slaved  for  a  living. 

And  so  it  happens  that  when  the  returned  immi¬ 
grant  finds  that  the  conditions  which  first  drove 
him  out  have  remained  unchanged,  back  he  comes, 
the  leader  of  a  band  which  also  seeks  its  fortune  in 
this  wonderland,  where  a  man  may  earn  four  times 
as  much  as  he  earned  at  home,  where  women  are 
honored  as  they  are  in  no  other  part  of  the  world, 
and  where  even  the  rights  of  little  children  are  re¬ 
spected.  Here,  too,  they  find  religious  and  political 
freedom,  a  man’s  chance  to  make  the  most  of  him¬ 
self,  and  economic  liberty  such  as  they  never  knew 
before. 


2 


Some  of  the  Problems 

^ETTLING  principally  in  our  cities,  and  in- 
Ifluenced  by  segregative  tendencies,  they 

_  form  their  “Ghettos,”  their  “Little  Italys,” 

their  “Bohemian  Hills,”  often  retaining  their  old 
country  social  ideas  and  customs. 

Coming  from  lands  where  their  privileges  have 
been  restricted;  they  become  an  easy  prey  to  social 
agitators.  Sometimes  the  false  economic  doctrines 
accepted  abroad  influence  their  relationships  in 
America.  The  temperance  movement  in  this  coun¬ 
try  finds  its  strongest  opponents  in  the  voters  among 


the  foreign  element  in  our  cities.  Accustomed  to 
the  “Continental  Sunday,”  the  immigrant  finds  it 
hard  to  accept  our  method  of  Observing  the  Lord’s 
Day,  and  with  vigor  does  he  seek  to  break  it  down. 
Purchased  and  led  to  the  polls  by  corrupt  politicians, 
they  become  a  menace  to  the  well-being  of  our  coun¬ 
try.  Dependent  upon  their  daily  work  for  a  living, 
their  movements  are  largely  determined  by  eco¬ 
nomic  conditions,  hence  they  often  go  from  place 
to  place,  frequently  victims  of  unscrupulous  em¬ 
ployment  agencies,  “fake”  banks  and  dishonest 
transportation  officials. 

Getting  at  the  Facts 

DOW  are  we  to  meet  the  needs  of  these  who 
have  come,  unwittingly,  because — if  there  is 
any  potency  in  prayer — the  Church  has  long  asked 
for  the  chance  to  help  them? 

First,  by  sympathetically  studying  their  social  and 
moral  conditions.  Not  by  organizing  “slumming 
parties,”  nor  by  going  into  the  work  merely  for  the 
sake  of  studying  “sociology,”  nor  yet  because  the 
subject  has  become  a  fad,  but  because  there  is  an 
honest  purpose  to  help  those  who  need  education 
and  direction,  but  principally  the  influence  of  the 
gospel,  with  all  that  this  implies. 

Study  the  manner  in  which  they  live  in  the  tene¬ 
ments  and  ask  yourself  if  you  could  remain  sweet- 
tempered — to  say  nothing  about  being  Christian — 
under  such  conditions.  Look  into  their  restricted 


4 


social  and  intellectual  opportunities,  and  you  will  no 
longer  wonder  why  some  are  immoral. 

Go  to  the  police  court  and  glance  over  the  records. 
Find  out  why  the  immigrant  was  arrested.  Prob¬ 
ably  it  will  be  discovered  that  in  many  cases  it  was 
on  account  of  his  ignorance  of  our  language  and 
customs. 

Investigate  the  reading  matter  which  goes  to  his 
home.  Note  how  plentiful  is  the  supply  of  material¬ 
istic  Socialist  and  Anarchist  literature  with  which 
somebody  has  made  it  his  business  to  supply  him. 
The  postmaster  can  tell  you  about  this.  So  can  the 
letter  carrier  and  the  news  agent. 

Note  how  the  saloon  has  become  his  social  centre. 
Here  he  has  his  birthday  parties,  his  christenings, 
his  marriages.  The  saloon  is  his  employment 
agency,  his  social  club,  his  reading-room,  his  savings 
bank,  his  steamship  agency,  his  political  headquar¬ 
ters.  Indeed,  nothing  is  too  “common”  for  this  cen- 


D 


tre  of  influence.  He  trusts  the  owner  of  the  saloon 
— this  countryman  of  his — who  seems  so  interested 
in  all  that  concerns  him. 

His  social  instinct  is  strongly  developed.  He 
loves  the  crowd.  Therefore  lodges,  labor  unions, 
social  and  benevolent  orders  appeal  to  him.  It 
would  pay  to  find  out  what  there  is  in  these  that  is 
so  attractive,  and  what  may  be  improved  upon — 
eliminating  the  obnoxious  features — and  then  to 
supply  a  substitute  for  whatever  may  be  detrimental 
to  his  highest  interests. 


Sources  of  Information 

HACTS  concerning  the  immigrant  may  be  ob¬ 
tained  from  the  public  school  principals  and 
teachers.  It  would  be  well  to  visit  the  schools  and 
inquire  about  the  work  of  the  immigrant’s  children. 

The  political  leaders  know  the  voters  among  the 
foreigners,  and  many  who  do  not  vote — legitimately. 
Among  every  group  of  foreigners  there  will  usually 
be  found  an  ambitious  young  fellow  who  is  honestly 
trying  to  lead  his  countrymen  into  better  ways. 
This  man’s  co-operation  should  be  secured  in  any 
plans  which  are  to  be  introduced  among  his  people. 

The  employers  of  labor  may  give  assistance.  They 
know  the  foreigners’  economic  value,  and  what 
will  give  them  greater  worth.  Often  the  saloon¬ 
keeper  could  give  information  which  would  be  a 
revelation  to  the  Church  workers.  He  has  no  pet 
theories  concerning  the  foreigner,  and  he  knows 


6 


much  about  his 
real  needs.  The 
census  returns  are 
valuable  in  giving 
facts  and  figures 
which  are  inform¬ 
ing.  The  Depart¬ 
ment  of  Immigra¬ 
tion  in  Washing¬ 
ton  will  supply 
you  with  abundant 
material,  which  is 
always  up  to  date. 

The  Depart- 
ment  of  Immigration  of  the  Home  Board  is  at  the 
service  of  every  Christian  worker  in  the  Presby¬ 
terian  Church.  Our  office  is  a  clearing  house  for 
every  sort  of  information  concerning  the  immi¬ 
grant.  New  York  City,  the  greatest  immigrant 
centre  in  the  world,  is  our  laboratory.  The  Pres¬ 
bytery  of  New  York  has  given  over  to  our  depart¬ 
ment  its  work  among  immigrants  on  Manhattan 
Island  and  The  Bronx.  Here  we  have  a  dozen 
churches  of  various  nationalities,  in  which  we  are 
working  out  for  the  entire  country  the  problems 
which  apply  to  every  immigrant  centre  in  America. 


7 


Make  the  Church  the  Centre 

aOU  may  help  the  immigrant  by  engag¬ 
ing  in  practical  methods  of  work  in  his  be¬ 
half.  The  orthodox  method  of  supply¬ 
ing  him  with  opportunities  for  religious  worship 
is  to  establish  a  mission  on  a  side  street,  in  a  dark, 
dingy,  dirty  building.  Then  we  wonder  why  these 
men  who  formerly  worshipped  in  the  great  cathe¬ 
drals  of  Europe  do  not  crowd  our  mission  halls. 
Sometimes  they  do  in  their  eagerness  to  hear  the 
story  of  the  gospel,  but  they  do  it  in  spite  of  many 
handicaps.  We  cannot  give  them  cathedrals  which 
rival  those  in  the  fatherland,  but  we  can  at  least 
give  them  decently  clean  meeting  places. 

Making  the  church  the  centre,  an  educational 
campaign  may  be  inaugurated  whose  influence  will 
reach  every  home  in  the  community.  Classes  in 
English  will  better  equip  the  immigrant  to  make 
his  way  in  the  world.  The  knowledge  of  domestic 
science  will  help  the  women  to  make  their  homes 
brighter,  healthier  and  more  Christ-like.  Here  the 
immigrant  should  be  taught  lessons  of  American 
patriotism.  Not  despising  the  love  for  the  country 
which  gave  him  birth,  nevertheless  he  should  be 
made  to  see  that  his  immediate  interests  are  now 
with  America,  and  that  his  destiny  is  wrapped  up 
with  that  of  his  adopted  country. 

Here,  also,  the  immigrant  should  be  made  to  feel 
is  a  place  to  which  he  may  bring  his  family  to  satisfy 
the  natural  desire  for  relaxation  and  profitable 
recreation. 


s 


The  immigrant  has  not  forgotten  how  to  play. 
Folk  dances  and  carnivals  appeal  to  him.  Under 
Christian  influence  may  not  his  amusements  help 
to  relieve  the  monotony  of  a  desolate  life? 


Ministering  to  the  Women 

©HE  “Kaffee  Klatsch”  for  the  women  gives 
them  cheer,  and  usually  better  coffee  than 
they  enjoy  at  home.  And  how  the  clean,  white 
tablecloth  and  fresh-cut  flowers  bring  smiles  of  ap¬ 
preciation.  If  they  may  take  the  flowers  home,  how 
glad  they  are.  It  doesn’t  mean  much  to  those  who 
gave  them,  but  what  joy  it  brings  to  homes  too  dark 
and  sunless  to  raise  the  flowers  they  love  so  much. 
It  may  be  that  it  will  take  a  while  to  break  up  the 
stiffness  of  the  occasion,  but  with  a  little  tact  these 
grave  women  with  faces  heavy  with  care  can  be 
made  to  romp  like  little  children  as  they  play  the 
games  that  drive  away  the  clouds  of  trouble  which 
seem  always  to  hover  over  them.  This  is  truly  a 
Christian  ministry,  even  though  never  a  prayer  nor 
a  scripture  is  spoken.  Not  that  these  would  be  out 


of  order,  but  even  without  them  the  work — or 
play — would  be  the  work  of  Christ.  For,  be  it  con¬ 
fessed,  what  most  of  these  immigrant  women  need 
is  not  admonition,  but  just  the  plain,  hearty  com¬ 
radeship  of  those  who  have  enjoyed  more  of  the 
better  things  of  life — those  things  which  have  given 
the  larger  vision. 

The  women  need  help  more  than  do  the  men. 
Confined  to  the  four  walls  of  their  kitchens,  and 
made  to  listen  to  the  crying  and  the  shouting  of  the 
children,  isn’t  it  a  wonder  that  more  of  them  do  not 
become  insane?  Many  of  them  do,  but  you  prob¬ 
ably  never  hear  about  it.  Here’s  a  chance  for  some 
big-hearted  woman — the  chance  to  minister  to  just 
one  immigrant  woman,  pouring  into  her  life  some¬ 
thing  of  the  abundance  which  has  filled  her  own. 
•  Visiting  her  in  her  home,  counseling  with  her  con¬ 
cerning  her  children,  helping  to  find  work  for  her 
husband — in  short,  being  a  friend — not  in  the  spirit 
of  patronage  or  paternalism,  but  coming  as  a  sister 
in  the  spirit  of  her  Master. 

The  Children  Need  Help 

CHE  children  of  immigrants  of  the  first  gener¬ 
ation  are  a  greater  problem  and  menace  than 
the  immigrant  himself.  Unrestrained  and  unin¬ 
structed  on  account  of  the  ignorance  of  parents,  and 
seeing  unlawful  pleasures  abundant,  they  often 
find  their  way  to  the  saloon,  the  cheap  theatre  and 
even  viler  places,  frequently  ending  with  the  peni¬ 
tentiary. 


10 


Industrial  classes  and 
clubs  for  the  boys  and 
girls  will  give  them  better 
motives  and 
higher  i n  c  e  n- 
tives.  The  kin¬ 
dergarten  is  one 
pf  the  greatest 
factors  in  help¬ 
ing  the  children. 

Trained  to  use 
head  and  hand 
and  heart  aright 
during  the  years 
between  three 
and  six,  these 
lessons  will  go  < 
with  them  all 

through  life.  Incidentally,  this  ministry  to 
the  children  will  win  the  hearts  of  the  parents, 
whose  own  lives  are  brightened  by  the  cheer 
of  the  kindergarten  trophies  which  are 
brought  home  by  the  child  and  displayed  with 
pride  by  the  older  folks.  But  it’s  the  personal 
influence  of  the  teacher  or  the  leader — unconsciously 
exerted — which  counts  for  most  in  children’s  work. 
Important  then  to  secure  men  and  women  of  char¬ 
acter,  who  may  be  entrusted  with  the  destinies  of 
those  who  have  been  committed  to  their  charge. 

Few  are  the  institutional  church  features  which 
may  not  be  employed  in  reaching  and  helping  the 


immigrant.  Studying  their  needs  will  determine  the 
peculiar  form  which  this  ministry  should  take. 


Speaking  in  Universal  Languages 


CHE  difficulty  of  language  need  not  stand 
as  a  barrier  in  many  methods  which  may 
be  adopted.  There  are  ways  of  working  through 
which  one  may  speak  to  the  people  of  every  tongue. 

First  of  all,  there  is  the  universal  language  of 
love.  Some  time  ago  two  cultured  young  people  in 
New  York  were  married,  one  an  American  and  the 
other  a  Russian,  but  neither  being  able  to  speak  the 
other’s  language.  However,  they  found  a  way  to 
express  their  love.  '  A  handgrasp,  a  smile,  a  glance 
of  the  eye,  will  do  it.  One  may  talk  to  anybody  in 
this  way — even  a  little  six  months’  old  baby,  who 
cannot  speak  at  all,  will  understand  it.  Haven't 
you  noticed  how  that  group  of  Italian  laborers 
alongside  the  railroad  track  responds  to  a  smile  or 
a  wave  of  the  hand  as  the  train  passes  by? 

Then,  too,  one  may  speak  through  printed  mat¬ 
ter.  The  Socialists  are  doing  it.  They  consider  it 
their  best  propaganda  method.  In  some  American 
cities  they  have  special  committees  appointed  to  dis¬ 
tribute  their  literature,  printed  in  various  languages, 
among  the  tenement  people,  who  read  it  with  avid¬ 
ity.  Printing  in  their  own  language  the  message 
which  you  desire  to  bring  them,  you  may  speak  to 
larger  numbers  than  would  be  possible  even  though 

12 


» 


you  could  speak  their  language,  and  often  the 
printed  page  would  do  it  better  than  you  can,  be¬ 
cause  you  may  thus  use  the  greatest  truths  which 
have  yet  been  spoken. 

You  may  use  the  stereopticon  and  moving  picture 
machine.  Pictures  talk  in  every  tongue.  Earliest 
of  methods  was  this — the  teaching  of  truth  through 
graphics.  Presenting  pictures  of  patriots  of  the 
fatherland,  with  whom  they  are  familiar,  and  com¬ 
bining  these  with  illustrations  of  American  heroes 
will  inspire  to  better  citizenship.  The  story  of  the 
parables  may  be  told,  the  progress  of  Pilgrim,  the 
life  of  Christ  and  the  Apostle  Paul  and  other  scrip¬ 
tural  knowledge  may  be  received  entirely  through 
the  eye-gate.  Old  country  pictures  for  use  in  the 
stereopticon  and  moving  picture  machine  have  be- 


13 


come  so  common  that  one  may  easily  work  out  an 
entire  season’s  program  of  “picture  talks.” 

You  may  speak  in  the  language  of  music — the 
language  which  the  foreigner  seems  to  understand 
even  more  readily  than  the  native  American.  In 
every  city  they  have  their  musical  organizations — 
Germans,  Bohemians,  Italians — indeed,  nearly  every 
nationality  is  represented  in  the  musical  societies 
which  meet  back  of  the  saloons  in  the  tenement- 
house  districts,  and  in  the  halls  which  are  rented  at 
small  cost  above  the  saloons.  Would  it  not  be  a 
Christian  thing  to  offer  them  the  use  of  the  church 
for  these  rehearsals?  For  where  could  they  go  be¬ 
sides  the  saloon?  The  saloonkeeper  has  a  monopoly 
of  practically  all  the  halls  in  their  neighborhood. 
The  immigrants  will  be  attracted  by  song  services, 
even  though  they  cannot  understand  the  words 
which  are  used.  The  great  organs  in  our  churches 
would  thrill  them — if  they  could  but  hear  them, 
arousing  the  noblest  feelings  in  the  human  breast. 


Aggressive  Evangelism 


! 


UT,  after  all,  we  must  give  them  the 
'gospel  in  their  own  language.  Much  as 
may  be  done  through  other  methods,  the  best 
work  cannot  be  accomplished  unless  we  speak 
to  the  immigrant  concerning  his  most  intimate 
and  personal  relationship  to  God.  This  may 
be  done,  among  other  ways,  through  open-air 


14 


preaching  and  tent  work  in  the  summer  season.  Spe¬ 
cial  meetings  for  children  may  be  conducted  after 
school  hours  in  the  afternoon,  or  before  the  evening 
service,  thus  relieving  the  meeting  for  adults  of  the 
restlessness  which  the  presence  of  children  often 
brings,  unless  they  are  accompanied  by  their  par¬ 
ents.  “Cottage”  prayer  meetings  may  be  held  in 
their  homes  in  the  winter  time,  to  which  they  should 
be  urged  to  invite  their  friends  and  neighbors.  These 
meetings  should  be  as  informal  as  possible,  so  that 
the  people  may  be  made  to  feel  comfortable  and 
natural.  But  all  this  should  lead  to  the  service  in 
the  church  building  itself.  These  others  are  but  the 
porches  to  the  house  of  God. 


Mistakes  to  be  Avoided 


m 


TSTAKES  in  this  work  are  sometimes  fatal. 
.Guard  against  arousing  bitter  feelings  between 
people  of  various  nationalities.  Born  and  bred  in  an 
atmosphere  of  hatred  for  some  other  race,  on  ac¬ 
count  of  oppression,  war  or  social  position,  the  im¬ 
migrant  brings  his  prejudices  with  him,  which  often 
cause  quarrels  which  are  fiercely  fought  out.  It  is 
almost  necessary  to  understand  something  about  the 
history  of  a  particular  nationality  before  the  largest 
and  best  work  can  be  done  among  them. 

Do  not  assume  that  these  foreigners  are  worthless, 
insignificant  people.  Many  of  them  have  national  his¬ 


tories  of  which  any  nation 


might  well 


be  proud. 


15 


Never  speak  disparagingly  of 
their  country.  Do  not  permit 
them  to  be  called  “Dagoes,” 
“Hunkies”  or  “Sheenies.” 
Respect  their  rights  if  they 
are  expected  to  respect  ours. 

Do  not  unnecessarily  an¬ 
tagonize  their  church  officials, 
their  priests  and  rabbis.  Many 
of  them  are  men  of  culture  and  are  perfectly  sincere 
in  their  work,  rendering  a  real  service  in  behalf  of 
their  people.  Furthermore,  it  is  rarely  necessary 
to  so  much  as  mention  another  religion  in  order  to 
preach  yours.  Let  your  message  be  positive  and 
constructive,  rather  than  controversial  and  negative. 

Be  careful  not  to  arouse  in  the  children  a  feeling 
of  superiority  over  their  parents.  The  temptation 
for  the  child  to  believe  that  its  parents  are  back- 
numbers  is  only  too  strongly  developed  in  this 
country.  This  applies  particularly  to  the  children 
of  the  foreigner  as  they  become  “Americanized.” 
In  dealing  with  these  children  show  them  how 
much  America  owes  to  the  foreigners  who  have 
helped  to  make  our  country  what  it  is,  dwelling 
upon  the  greatness  of  their  forefathers. 

Avoid  the  spirit  which  would  cause  you  to  engage 
in  this  work  simply  for  the  sake  of  adding  a  few 
more  members  to  your  church  or  your  denomina¬ 
tion.  Your  motives  should  be  altruistic — your  de¬ 
sires  simply  to  help  the  immigrant  in  every  way 
possible.  If  he  can  be  helped  best  by  uniting  with 


1G 


your  church,  he  should  be 
given  every  encourage¬ 
ment  to  do  so.  But  there 
may  be  occasions  when  it 
would  be  better  to  have 
him  remain  faithful  to  his 
own  church.  The  church 
is  simply  a  means  to  an 
end,  and  not  an  end  in  it¬ 
self.  It  is  well  to  remem¬ 
ber  in  this  larger  work  for 
the  immigrant  that  Christ 
did  not  heal  the  sick  in  or¬ 
der  to  have  them  come  to 
hear  Him  preach.  He  healed  them  because  He  had 
compassion  upon  them  and  because  they  needed 
healing.  The  same  principle  must  apply  to  all  of 
our  work  for  the  immigrant. 

Do  not  expect  to  finish  this  work  by  a  brief  excur¬ 
sion  into  the  tenement-house  district,  nor  by  a  mere 
academic  discussion  of  the  problems  connected  with 
it.  The  work  will  never  be  done  in  this  fashion. 
It  will  require  the  consecration  of  the  best  blood  and 
the  best  brain  that  God  ever  gave  any  man  or 
woman.  If  ever  we  are  to  adequately  meet  the 
needs  of  the  immigrant,  we  must  engage  in  the 
work  with  the  utmost  degree  of  devotion  and  self- 
sacrifice.  Nothing  short  of  this  is  worthy  of  this 
enterprise,  and  nothing  less  will  accomplish  all  that 
must  be  done. 


17 


The  Personal  Element 

HIKE  every  other  great  question  before  the 
Church  to-day,  this  whole  matter  resolves 
itself  into  a  question  of  leadership.  The 
preacher  brought  over  from  foreign  lands  is  render¬ 
ing  a  valuable  service.  We  need  him  in  this  work, 
but  too  often  he  hasn’t  the  vision  and  the  grasp 
which  is  required  for  the  task.  His  son  and  the  son 
of  the  immigrant  for  whom  he  is  laboring  will  have 
more  of  it,  and  if  he  really  has  enough  of  it  will  make 
an  ideal  minister  for  the  people  of  his  own  national¬ 
ity.  And  for  this  we  should  labor — seeking  to  se¬ 
cure  the'  young  men  who  are  suitable  for  this  work. 

But  is  it  too  much  to  ask  that  our  splendidly 
gifted  American  young  people  should  give  them¬ 
selves  to  this  task,  rendering  whole-hearted  service 
for  the  immigrant  for  a  week,  a  month,  a  year,  a 
lifetime,  as  God  may  direct?  Is  it  too  much  to  ask 
that  some  of  them  should  study  Italian,  Bohemian, 
German,  or  some  other  language  which  will  permit 
them  to  converse  with  the  foreigners  whom  they 
should  seek  to  help?  Why  may  we  not  have  a 


18 


movement  in  behalf  of  the  foreigners  in  America 
similar  to  the  “Volunteer  Movement  for  Foreign 
Missions?”  The  enterprise  is  big  enough  to  stir 
the  enthusiasm  of  every  earnest  Christian  man  and 
woman.  Religion,  patriotism,  philanthropy,  educa¬ 
tion,  social  service — all  these  are  needed,  and  the 
very  best  of  them  all,  to  answer  the  challenge  of  the 
immigrant  to  our  Christianity. 


19 


The  Willett  Press,  N.  Y. 


